Mary of Peter, Paul and Mary passes on
by Rob - September 17th, 2009.Filed under: Deaths.
One of the things I inherited from my parents is a love of folk music. I am a huge Pete Seeger fan, and also greatly admired Peter, Paul and Mary.
(In fact, this no doubt had an influence on the kind of writer I turned out to be. One school of writing says, if you want to send a message, call Western Union. Another — the one Pete Seeger (and Woody Guthrie) and Peter, Paul and Mary — subscribed to says, if you want to send a message, send a message! I’m of the latter school, and it’s the protest songs of these artists that influenced me.)
Mary — Mary Travers — of Peter, Paul and Mary passed away today.
Among the songs the group was known for: “If I Had a Hammer” (which they performed during the 1963 March on Washington), “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” and “Blowin’ in the Wind” (and, yes, “Puff, the Magic Dragon”).
The New York Times has an death notice.
And here’s Pete Seeger himself introducing a clip of Peter, Paul and Mary. I have tears in my eyes right now listening to it.
Frolic in the autumn mist, Mary: you deserve it. What you did mattered, and it made a difference.
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